Jan 27, 2010

CoDev to hold ninth annual film fest this weekend

CUPE BC to host provincial premiere of “Tapped”, panel discussion

VANCOUVER—“Communities in Resistance” is the inspirational theme of CoDevelopment Canada (CoDev)’s ninth annual World Community Film Festival, being held January 29-31 at Langara College. On Saturday afternoon, CUPE BC, a major sponsor of the festival, will host the B.C. premiere of “Tapped”, a documentary about big business of bottled water, followed by a panel discussion.

Around the world, communities are uniting to build better ways of life - movements that are reflected in many of the films in this year’s festival. The lineup features more than 40 documentaries on social justice and environmental issues set around the world and across the street. The focus of the festival is to motivate the audience to action through awareness of issues both local and global.

“Many of the documentaries that we will screen this year show how people in many different communities are working together for positive change, sometimes in the face of incredible hardship and oppression,” says festival coordinator Erin Mullan. “We hope these films will help inspire our audience to make a difference in their own lives.”

The festival’s opening film, “Sweet Crude,” is an incredible story of resistance against the oil industry and the military in the Niger Delta, and one of the filmmakers will be present. The Saturday night feature, “Under Rich Earth,” tells of farmers in Ecuador resisting their forced evacuation by a Canadian mining company. Both films present moving stories of hope, determination, and ultimately, resistance.

The screening of “Tapped”, part of Saturday’s daytime program on water issues, will be followed by a panel discussion on the struggle for control of this vital resource. The screening begins at 3:00 pm and is 76 minutes long.

The World Community Film Festival also has a “Social Justice Bazaar” where filmgoers can purchase fairly traded goods and connect with activist organizations. The festival is produced by CoDev and the World Community Development Education Society, and co-sponsored by Langara College. For the full festival schedule, film descriptions, and ticket information, visit the World Community Film Festival website.